Houthis Marib attacks have intensified tensions in Yemen after ballistic missiles and drones targeted displacement camps and residential areas in the city, killing two people and injuring 14 others, according to local authorities.
Yemen’s army said early Saturday that it had responded to Houthi forces across several fronts along the lines of contact. The military did not provide details about the operations but warned it would take necessary measures against further attacks on its units.
The latest Houthis Marib attacks represent a significant escalation between the Iran-aligned group and forces supporting Yemen’s internationally recognised government. Large-scale fighting between the sides had remained largely subdued in recent years.
The escalation follows attacks on military camps in Marib and Hadramawt provinces that reportedly killed at least 30 Yemeni government troops. The Houthis claimed responsibility, saying they had targeted Saudi-backed forces, military equipment, vehicles and storage facilities.
The group also said it had launched missile and drone attacks on Saudi military deployments in the two provinces. However, the claims made by both sides could not be independently verified, while Saudi Arabia has not confirmed the Houthi allegations.
UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg warned that the latest violence, alongside renewed attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, had pushed Yemen toward its highest risk of renewed large-scale conflict since the UN-brokered truce of April 2022.
The UN Security Council also expressed concern over the deteriorating situation, warning that the escalation could threaten regional security and freedom of navigation. The latest Houthis Marib attacks have renewed fears that Yemen could be drawn deeper into the wider regional conflict, despite international calls for restraint and dialogue.
